Recent Posts

If you are struggling with fibromyalgia, you are not alone, as Dr. Stacey Conrad sees many people with this particular condition in our Indianapolis, IN chiropractic practice. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that roughly two percent of all adults in the United States have fibromyalgia. Fortunately, chiropractic is one treatment option that can provide positive results.

Research Supports Chiropractic Eases Fibromyalgia

In a study released in mid-2015, 215 adults with fibromyalgia were assessed based on factors ranging from pain to quality of sleep to the levels of depression and anxiety they felt. Then they were split into two groups with one group receiving a multi-modal therapy program for three months and the second group receiving the same program with the addition of chiropractic adjustments (specifically, to the upper neck tissues) for the same length of time.

The subjects who received chiropractic adjustments in addition to the multi-modal treatment approach reported greater benefits in all areas (pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety) at three months post-treatment when compared to the study patients who received multi-modal treatment without chiropractic. Furthermore, those positive results were lasting as the people reported continued improvement one full year later.

Fibromyalgia can significantly decrease your quality of life, both mentally and physically. If you're suffering from fibromyalgia, we might be able to help.

You don't have to suffer! To see what Dr. Stacey Conrad can do for your fibromyalgia pain, call our Indianapolis, IN chiropractic office today.

Research

Fibromyalgia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm on November 2, 2015.

Dr. Stacey Conrad works with countless sciatica patients here in our Indianapolis, IN office, and quite a few of these individuals were afraid that they might require surgery to treat their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists examined 80 women and men with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.

Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.

Both groups got better; however, no noticeable difference in outcome was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, around 60% of the participating patients who could not find relief from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Simply put, chiropractic offered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often affiliated with that specific treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery ought to be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Indianapolis, IN and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Stacey Conrad a call today at (317) 841-2700. We'll help determine the origin of your pain and work hard to get you relief.

According to The American Academy of Pain Medicine, more people in the US suffer with chronic pain than diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer combined. Furthermore, neck pain is the third most reported type of pain, beat out only by back pain and headache.

Of course, many people come to our Indianapolis, IN office seeking neck pain care, and Dr. Stacey Conrad has helped many of them find relief. This is a smart decision, as some research indicates that over 90 percent of neck pain patients benefit from chiropractic.

Studies Confirm Chiropractic's Positive Effects

A study published in The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy included 64 people who were suffering with neck problems. Approximately half were placed in an experimental group and the other half were designated to a comparison group. Both were given chiropractic adjustments of the neck as well as a home exercise plan, while the experimental group also received adjustments of the thoracic spine.

Data was gathered before treatment began and one week post-treatment. The authors found that 94% of the experimental group claimed "significantly greater improvements" in regard to pain and disability in their neck symptoms. Just 35% of the individuals who received neck adjustments showed the same level of improvement, illustrating that looking at the entire spinal column is an important part of restoring the body's normal function.

Yet another study posted in Physical Therapy involved 60 participants between the ages of 18 and 60 who were dealing with neck pain. Each man or woman was randomly allocated to one of two groups--thoracic spine thrust manipulation or non-thrust manipulation--with follow-up exams occurring two and four days after the adjustments.

Researchers discovered that the study patients who received the thrust manipulations (the same adjustments that offered such positive results in the first study) "experienced greater reductions in disability" than the patients who received the non-thrust manipulations. Their pain was lower as well, which shows that this type of approach offers many benefits.

Chiropractic Even Offers Benefits After Failed Neck Surgery

One study found the same sort of positive outcomes after thoracic adjustments in a woman who had a failed neck surgical treatment. This specific case involved a 46-year-old patient who had recently had neck surgery but still reported neck pain, headaches, pain in her elbow, and muscle fatigue.

The patient reported reduced pain in her neck and lower headache intensity, right after the first chiropractic adjustments. After six weeks of care, which involved chiropractic, exercise, and patient education, the patient still placed her pain at a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. Her neck disability improved as well, with a rating score that represented that it was a "great deal better."

It is scientific studies like these that substantiate the effectiveness of chiropractic care, even if you've already attempted medical procedures that didn't provide relief. So, if you are dealing with neck problems and would like to find a solution that has a high success rate, try chiropractic. It may just be the help you're looking for.

We're located in Indianapolis, IN and Dr. Stacey Conrad can help you recover from neck pain. Give us a call today at (317) 841-2700.

References

AAPM facts and figures on pain. The American Academy of Pain Medicine.

We see a considerable number of folks with headaches in our Indianapolis, IN office, and Dr. Stacey Conrad has been able to assist many of them. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 50 percent of all adults have a problem with some type of headache condition, so this actually isn’t unexpected. One of the most prevalent sorts of headaches that our patients have problems with is cervicogenic headache which, luckily for us, chiropractic can generally help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that originates from a problem in the cervical spine. It might be generated by an issue with either the spine itself (primarily, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it could be attributable to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine brings about compaction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can bring about headache pain.

How do you tell if the headache you are experiencing is a cervicogenic headache? Aside from obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare expert, a common symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or discomfort in your neck. This is sometimes coupled with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps with Cervicogenic Headaches

Seeing that cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever issue is initiating them is remedied, it is essential to get treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an excellent solution, and one that can provide a great deal of pain relief.

In one study circulated in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, experts looked at 80 people who had recurrent cervicogenic headaches. One-half received chiropractic care and the other half underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the optimum outcomes.

Specifically, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments provided patients enhanced pain relief and lowered the number of headaches that occurred. Additionally, it also mitigated the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Stacey Conrad can do for you and your headache pain, call our office today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you deserve!

Dr. Stacey Conrad sees a lot of patients troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Indianapolis, IN chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a syndrome that stems from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A recent study printed in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy evaluated 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon investigating the subjects' neck range of motion, the researchers found that the women had reduced cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.

In addition, it was also discovered that the degree of the women's reported carpal tunnel pain was linked to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In other words, the less range of motion in the neck, the greater the level of pain.

This research is very important, as you can't effectively address a condition until you fully understand its source. By understanding that the root of carpal tunnel issues is in the neck, this means that natural approaches such as chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky surgical procedures.

If you suffer with carpal tunnel pain, call our Indianapolis, IN office and ask how Dr. Stacey Conrad can help you get relief!

We see many back pain patients in our Indianapolis, IN office, and Dr. Stacey Conrad has been able to help many of them find relief through various chiropractic techniques. However, recovering from back pain doesn't necessarily mean having to make a choice between chiropractic care and medical care, as many people utilize both types of care with great results.

Study Confirms Chiropractic and Medical Care Work Well with Each Other

In a report published by the medical journal Spine experts1 looked at a group of active-duty military personnel between the ages of 18 and 35 who reported both acute pain and restricted function due to back-related issues. Some of the patients engaged in treatment via standard medical therapy, while the remainder were given chiropractic care together with standard medical care, as researchers wanted to see which group fared better.

Researchers observed that the group that got standard medical care combined with chiropractic scored "significantly better" than the patients who got medical care alone; 73 percent reported positive benefits compared to just 17% of the medical care only group who indicated the same amount of improvement. This was true regarding both pain and level of function at the two- and four-week marks.

Thus, combining these two forms of care can greatly benefit you--the patient--offering advantages when compared to medical care alone. However, while chiropractic care and medical approaches can work alongside each other, chiropractic offers some unique strengths over medical treatment.

Where Chiropractic Care Wins

Although it may seem as if each approach plays a 50/50 role, there is one major advantage that chiropractic care has over medical care and that is in patient satisfaction. In fact, a study done at UCLA2 that was published in the American Journal of Public Health reports that, on average, chiropractic patients are generally more satisfied with their recovery than those undergoing medical treatment.

According to the experts, the main aspects that patients preferred over medical care were "self-care advice and explanation of treatment." This isn't surprising, as chiropractors typically spend much more time advising their patients as to how they can better their health on their own, as well as discussing more carefully what to expect from chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Care Offers a Non-Invasive Approach

Without a doubt, the strategies associated with chiropractic are quite different than those available with medical therapy, but a great deal of the difference is the fact that chiropractic is a natural approach to health and well-being. Instead of focusing on just relieving the symptoms, chiropractic care involves tracking down the primary cause of your pain, which often means greater improvement as you are tackling the problem at its source.

Additionally, while medication is sometimes helpful for managing certain conditions, many health issues respond well to a natural approach such as chiropractic care. This means fewer negative responses to drugs and lasting recovery.

You don't have to deal with back pain or other health problems. Give our Indianapolis, IN clinic a call today at (317) 841-2700. We'll do everything we can to help you get and continue to be free from back pain.

We treat many car accident cases in in our Indianapolis, IN office, and a common symptom we see in our patients is shoulder pain. Why is shoulder pain such a common problem after a car crash? How can chiropractic care help you heal?

There are at least two different ways that you can get shoulder problems after an accident: by direct injury to the shoulder joint or by radiating pain from the neck.

Direct trauma can be caused by hitting your shoulder on a hard surface in the car during the impact, or can occur if you have a tight grip on the steering wheel during a rear end impact. With this type of trauma, you'll usually be aware of the pain shortly after the crash.

More commonly, Dr. Stacey Conrad finds that shoulder or arm pain doesn't immediately appear after a crash, but starts a few days or weeks after the trauma. This type of shoulder discomfort actually starts in the cervical spine. Injured soft tissue in your spine can pinch nerves in your neck, causing tingling, numbness, or soreness in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist.

We've worked with both types of shoulder problems in our Indianapolis, IN office. This process involves chiropractic adjustments to restore your spine's natural flexibility and exercises that strengthen your neck and shoulder.

Dr. Stacey Conrad is here in Indianapolis, IN to help you recover from shoulder pain. We've been helping patients since 1982 and we can probably help you, too. Dr. Stacey Conrad will first determine what's causing your pain and then work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (317) 841-2700 to make an appointment.

We see a large number of people in our Indianapolis, IN office, and Dr. Stacey Conrad has helped countless people manage a wide array of health challenges. Even so, a common issue that seems to prevent a lot of men and women from getting treatment is whether or not chiropractic care is safe. Well, according to three separate studies (out of quite a few on the subject), the answer to this concern is a clear: "Yes! Chiropractic is safe!"

Australian Study: Chiropractic is Safe

The first research paper(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 adults. Each test subject was suffering from spine-related pain, and half of the individuals received real chiropractic care while the remaining patients were given two fake chiropractic treatments. Data was gathered after each real or fake adjustment to see if any unfavorable negative effects were caused by the actual chiropractic adjustments.

The doctors reported that no participants documented any significant adverse side effects in any way after getting one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some people did state that they had a headache (just 9% of people) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the effects were not serious.

National Survey Reports that Chiropractic Care is Safe

A second research study(2), also published in the important publication, Spine, was conducted in an attempt to ascertain the safety of chiropractic. The test group was much larger as it involved just under 20,000 patients. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the neck, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all patients.

Once again, the experts discovered no serious negative side effects. The experts computed the risk of total side effects to be approximately 6 out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. Plus, just as with the previous study, some participants did report non-serious, milder, side effects such as dizziness (16 out of every 1,000 treatment consultations and 15 out of every 1,000 treatment sessions) or a headache (4 out of every 100), and this caused the researchers to conclude that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."

Chiropractic Adjustments are Safe for Kids

This third research paper(3) is different from the first two reports, as it focuses on the safety of chiropractic care for kids. In this case, the authors investigated results reported by both chiropractors and parents involving 816 children who participated in 7,173 chiropractic adjustments.

Out of 5,438 chiropractic appointments made for the children, chiropractors answering the survey documented only three cases where there were adverse effects. When parents were surveyed, they indicated only two adverse side effects out of 1,735 visits. Additionally, both chiropractors and parents reported "a high rate of improvement with respect to the children's presenting complaints."

Based on these three studies (and many more!), chiropractic care has been deemed safe and effective for everyone. To find out what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Indianapolis, IN office and schedule an appointment today at (317) 841-2700.